Very unique situation really needs expert expat help

Member since 15 February 2007

expatbyseaMember15 February 2007 14:10:31

Hello,

This is my first post to the board. I have a very unique situation that I just can't seem to figure out on my own. I was wondering if I could get some advice from any of you that are more experienced with expat rules, regulations, etc...

1) I am a dual American and Irish citizen

2) I do all of my expat stuff via a sailboat I live on

3) I haven't left with the sailboat yet, although I have traveled around the States and Caribbean

4) I earn my living doing simple handy-man type work wherever I go, getting paid as what is called a "sole proprietor" in the States. Essentially, no company. The client just gives me cash or a check to do their work.

5) I wish to continue doing this work, while sailing to various countries and islands, as it's the only way I can afford to do so.

The question is:

Give than I'm both an American and a member of the EEC (economic community of the EU), where in the world can I work legally doing this type of work? I am interested in places such as Ireland and the Med which are obviously simple, as I'm an EU citizen. The areas that get very difficult for me to understand are places like Aruba/Bonaire/Curacao, or St Martin or Turks and Caicos or Ibiza or the Azores. These are islands that I would most likely be visiting, among hundreds of others. Any idea where I can find the info for this?? Any first hand experience about working while you wander around?

Thank you in advance.

Julien Founder

Member since 11 March 2005

17 years of happy life abroad

JulienFounder15 February 2007 16:00:17

53070

Wow as you said your situation is unique, but very interesting. I hope somebody has the response to your questions.

About Europe, I don't think you can work without declaring your activity.

The big part of the problem is the residency question ... in which country are you living in? Can we consider that someone isn't resident of any country?

expatbysea Member

Member since 15 February 2007

expatbyseaMember15 February 2007 19:13:03

Hi Julien:

Thank you for the reply. Another side question... is declaring your business activity in France a matter of just going to the town office and filling out a form so you can pay your taxes, or is it a lot more complicated? I imagine there is a standard procedure (or similar procedure) in most countries?

Thank you in advance.

I agree. Residency is a difficult issue. Most sailors are super-rich people who are traveling around the world on a very large pension or investment income, or were just born rich. I was born poor. So I have to work everywhere I go.

oreneta ViP

Member since 15 January 2007

orenetaViP15 February 2007 20:23:57

314

Your best bet is of course the cruiser grape vine, there is usually someone in a major port who has come from where you are thinking of going. Julien is right, you do need to be 'resident' somewhere. I would contact the upcoming countries before you got there. There are micro-cruisers around who are doing these things....we cruised for three years with our kids, but didn't need to work, though we aren't rich either. Some places like the Bahamas are very strictly opposed to you working there, and it would always be illegal unless you applied two months prior to arriving in the country.

Your best bets are to work in the US, or US dependencies, or within the EU where you can do so legally. It would be a disaster if you got your boat impounded because you broke local regulations, or got sent out of the country in appalling conditions and got damaged.

This is of course massively cliched, but the Pardey's have been doing it for years, and you could look at some of their books, although the comments are very general, or try contacting them on-line. http://www.landlpardey.com/ContactInfo.html

I still think your best bet is to contact the embassies of the countries before you arrive. Although in some parts of the world, what you are told has little bearing on the decision of the person you have to deal with on arrival, unless you grease their palms.

expatbysea Member

Member since 15 February 2007

expatbyseaMember17 February 2007 13:58:54

Thank you all for the advice so far. Very enlightening. I will stick with the US territories for now (USVI) and mainland USA until I get my boat paid off. After that, I'll head to the EU.

Question about the EU:

I'm an Irish citizen. From what I understand, that means I can work (meaning run a small 1 person business) anywhere in the EEC, correct? Does that mean I can work (run 1 person business) in all member states of the EU?

Sorry for all the questions. It's tough sometimes to figure out the red tape in the EU. Also, if I show up in, say... France with an American flagged vessel and present my Irish passport to register to work (1 person business) legally, is anyone going to give me a hard time? With my boat being a US flagged boat, it will not be subject to VAT... or will it because I show an Irish Passport?

(sigh) The cruising life is complicated!

oreneta ViP

Member since 15 January 2007

orenetaViP19 February 2007 14:39:26

314

Honestly, that is incredibly complicated, and the VAT could be huge...I would do a fair amount of highly reputable homework on the topic...boat shippers, like the folks in Ft. Lauderdale may well know. You probably have to go to one of the high end boat movers. I am sure you can do it, just be very careful. It sometimes matters a lot where the specific boat was originally manufactured. If it was made in the US, the regs will be different than if it is made in France. This could also impact on what country you head for first in Europe. Also check about the regs for the European country you go to, I believe the Spanish will let you keep it here for 6 months, and then you have to pay up, or register it locally, which is really just paying up too. That is by no means certain information. "The Cruising Association" in Britian, and the seven seas, and blue seas cruising org. may have information that would help you. I think you should check beyond the cruising grapevine. I would check the resources in Ft. Lauderdale, the home of big money, and therefor many international transfers of YACHTS with complicated ownership.